Centrifugal pump primer



Dec. 17, 1946. SMH-H CENTRIFUGAL-PUMP PRIMER Filed March 28, 1944 5 SheetS-Sheell l 3 wuvwtofb Julius 'amarSm/z.

J. L. SMITH CENTRIFUGAL PUMP PRIMER Filed March 28, 1944 Smeets-sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. L. SMITH CENTRIFUGAL PUMP PRIMER- Fled March 28, 1944 i 'X ,f' i E sT- A-A--l Dec. 17, 1946.

E fuzz-us Patented Dec. 1 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAi f CENTRIFUGAL' PUMP PRIMER Julius Lamar Smith, Jacksonville, Fla. Application March 28, 1844, Serial No. 528.437

8 Claims. (01.103-113) l t This invention relates generally to the class of pumps and pumping mechanisms and is directed particularly to an improved combination centrifugal and diaphragm pumping mechanism.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid pumping apparatus consisting of a combination of a rotary pump and a diaphragm pump connected together so that the diaphragm pump willfunction to prime the rotary pump so' that the latterV may operate to carry the load of the pumping operation and the diaphragm pump will take over the operation of pumping the liquid when the rotary or centrifugal pump looses its prime by reason of the exhaustion of the liquid supply to an extent where the rotary or centrifugal pump sucks aix'.r

. Another object of the invention is to provide a pumping apparatus in and a diaphragm pump are coupled together so that the diaphragm pump functions initially to prime the centrifugal pump and wherein a novel means is provided for eii'ecting the automatic discontinuance of the operation of the diaphragm pump after the centrifugal pump has been primed and is functioning to keep the liquid moving.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pumping apparatus in which a centrifugal pump and a, diaphragm pump are coupled together, with means operated by the centrifugal pump after the latter has been primed by the diaphragm pump and is pumping liquid, for stop` ping the operation o f the diaphragm pump and keeping the latter inoperative so long as the rotary pump is pumping to itscapacity. Still another object of the invention is to provide in a pumping apparatus of the` character stated, a novel clutch actuating mechanism' controlled by the centrifugal pump during such time as it is operating to full capacity, for stopping and maintainingl inoperative the diaphragm pump and for eiecting the starting up of the diaphragm pump so that it will take over the pumping operation, in the event that the centrifugal pump loses its prima Still another object of the invention .is to provide a pumping apparatus including a centrifugal pump and a diaphragm pump connected together so that the diaphragm pump has its output connected with the inlet side of the centrifugal pump,

with means for driving the centrifugal pump and which a centrifugal pump the salient features driving means when the centrifugal pump, for any reason, loses its "prime whereby lthe diaphragm pump then takes over the pumping operation.

A still further object of the invention is t0 provide in a pumping apparatus of the above described character, a novel clutch control apparatus by which the starting and stopping of the diaphragm pump is dependent upon the pumping action of the centrifugal pump and such. control apparatus is operated for stopping the operation of the diaphragm pump, either by the reduction of pressure at the intake of the centrifugal pump or by liquid pressure taken from the outlet of the centrifugal pump. i

The invention will be best understood from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present application, it being understood, however, that lthe invention is'not confined to any strict .conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or-modifled so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings: l

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and artly in vertical section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in to'p plan of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan and upon a reduced scale of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation oi' the embodiment shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in top plan of still another embodiment of the invention. j

Figure 6 isal view in side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- I ings it will be noted upon reference to Figure 1 means controlledby the centrifugalpump while it is pumping to capacity, for keeping the diaphragm pump inoperative, such means functioning to establish adriving connection betweenl the diaphragm pump and the centrifugal pump or tov Figure 2 that in the preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus consists of four major umts which are designated as follows:

A, the diaphragm pump unit;

B. the centrifugal pump unit;

C, the diaphragm pump drive and clutching and declutching unit; and

D, the power unit which may be of i any suitable character and which, therefore, is not illustrated in detail but is merely represented by a housing in which may be enclosed an engine, such as a gasoline engine. an electric motor or any other suitable driving apparatus.

. 3 The numeral I designates a base upon which the several units may be mounted but in this connection it is to be noted that the invention is not confined to this specific arrangement or set up as it will be readily apparent that the several units may be placed upon individual supports and also that the power unit D might, under some circumstances, be remote from the other unit and connected therewith by some other means than the power shaft here shown and designated II.

In themodined embodiments of the invention as illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive the same units are found but the units A, B and C are hooked up in a slightly different manner and the same reference letters for these units will be used primed in the speciflc description of the embodiments of the last mentioned figures.

In accordance with the present invention the diaphragm pump unit comprises a cylindrical chamber or `receptacle I2 across the open top of which is secured the diaphragm I3 by the usual of the diaphragm method of clamping the edge to the top edge of the housing I4.

IThe diaphragm pump is supported by the legs I5 and the bottom of the chamber is provided with a clean-out opening which is closed by the removable plate I6.

At diametrically opposite locations the diaphragm pump chamber is provided with the intake and discharge nipples I1 and I8 respectively, the intake nipple being closed at its inner end by the inwardly opening flap valve I9 while the outlet nipple is closed by the outwardly opening flap valve 20.

The inlet nipple I1 of the diaphragm pump is in the form a flanged coupling with which is connected a suitable suction hose, not shown, which leads from the fluid source.

' The swinging flap or check valves I9 and 20 permit the liquid such as water or the liketo be taken in only through the nipple or coupling I1 and discharged only through the coupling I8 so that upon continuous up and down movement I2 by a clamp ring of the diaphragm a reduced pressure will beestablished within the chamber I2 which will result in -the drawing in of liquid at one side and its discharge at the opposite side, thereby maintaining a steady flow as long as the diaphragm is actuated.

The centrifugal pump unit B comprises the pump casing 2| of usual construction, having the inlet neck or casting 22 and the outlet 23. The inlet casting 22 is secured to the discharge nipple I8 of the diaphragm pump unit and the power shaft II extends into the centrifugal .pump casing to support and rotate therein the usual impellar blades, not shown.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in Figures l and 2, there is connected .with the top of the intake casting 22 for the centrifugal pump, adjacent its point of connection with the diaphragm pump, avacuum pipe line 24 by means of which the hereinafter described clutch actuating mechanism, whichforms a part of the unit C, is controlled. y

' The unit C comprises a gear housing 25, in which is located a reduction gearing consisting of a worm gear 28 supported by a shaft 21 with which is connected a crank 28, and a worm or screw 29 which is mounted upon the power shaft I l and is maintained in position thereon, against movement in one direction, by the collar 30.

The shaft II turns freelywithin the worm 29 and driving connection is established betweenthe shaft and worm, to effect the rotation of the crank 28, through the medium of the clutch 3I the cylinder or cock 53.

which is here shown as comprising a disk 32 which is secured to the shaft Il and a shiftable disk 33 which slides on a sleeve-like extension 34 of the worm 29 and has a sliding pin in connection vtherewith,not shown, whereby it will continually turn with the worm and may at the same time be moved axially of the shaft for engagement with and disengagement from the fixed disk 32. l

A spring 35 normally urges the movable disk 33 into diving connection with the disk 32.

Carried by the clutch disk or plate 33 is the circumferentially grooved or channeled collar 36 with which is loosely coupled the fork 31 which is carried at the lower end of a clutch shift lever 38, pivoted intermediate its ends upon the supporting bracket 39. This shift lever 38 extends upwardly through the top of the gear housing 25 for connection with actuating and control units, as hereinafter described. l i

Also extending through the top of the gear housing 25 is a crank rod 40, the lower end of which is connected with the driving crank 28.

The upper end of the crank rod 4I! is laterally offset so as to lbring the bearing ears 4I at the upperend thereof, into the vertical plane of the centers of the centrifugal and diaphragm pumps and of the axis of the shaft II.

Upon the top of the centrifugal pump casing 2l and in the vertical center thereof is mounted an upstanding bearing bracket 42 upon which is supported for oscillation, the walking beam 43. One end of this beam is pivotally coupled with the pivot ears 4I of the crank rod while the opposite end is pivotally coupled as indicated at 44, with the upper end of the diaphragm arm 45 which is connected with the diaphragm I3 in the usual manner.

The pivotal connections between the walking beam 43, the supporting bracket 42, crank vrod 40 and diaphragml arm 45, preferably comprise pins and vbushings which allow for the necessary free motion of the parts.

Supported adjacent the upper end of the clutch lever 38 is a vacuum cylinder 46 with which the vacuum pipe line 24 is connected as shown. This cylinder may have a movable piston therein or may be closed at one side bya diaphragm, the latter construction being` shown and the diaphragm being designated 41. This movable element has connected therewith the actuating rod 48, which rod is pivotally coupled with the clutch operating lever. Consequently it will be readily apparent that upon the reduction of vacuumin 46 the movable element 41, here shown as a diaphragm although it may be a piston, will be shifted over to eect the oscilla-tion of the clutch lever, which movement will disengage the clutch by shifting the movable disk or plate 36 away from the fixed plate 32 thereby disestablishing driving connection between the shaft I I and the worm 29.

'Adjacent to the vacuum cylinder 46 there is mounted a dash pot cylinder'49 in which is sildablymounted the piston 50 which is connected by the rod 5I lever as shown. This dash pot cylinder is filled with suitable oil and the two ends of the cylinder are connected, upon opposite ends of the piston, the by-pass pipe 52 in which is fitted the valve Thus it will be seen by adjusting this valve or cock the flow of oil from one side of the piston 50 to the other may .be regulated so that with the upper end of the clutch ready being driven by the asians 5 the rapidity of movement imparted to the clutch lever by the vacuum cylinder can be controlled.

In the operation of the apparatus as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, when the power unit is put in operation the power shaft which drives the centrifugal pump will at once start rotating so that the centrifugal pump is immediately set in Vcperation.

Since the clutch 3i is engaged at this time it will be seen that driving power will be transmitted from the shaft Il through the clutch and through the worm and gear drive to the crank lever 40 thereby rocking the walking beam 83 and operating the diaphragm i3. 'lhis operation of the diaphragm pump will create a suction, reducing the pressure within the chamber l2 and causing-the liquid to be drawn into and forced through the chamber into the casing or housing of the centrifugal pump by way of the inlet or intake casting 22.

The foregoing operation primes the centrifugal pump and since the rotorof the pump is alshaft il, the centrifugal pump will at once begin to pump the water or other liquid being supplied to it by the diaphragm pump.

As soon as the full pumping operation of the centrifugal pump becomes established there will be a reduction in pressure in the inlet casting 22 which will create a reduction in pressure in the vacuum cylinder 48 with the result that the piston or diaghra'gm of the vacuum cylinder will be shifted causing the clutch lever to be oscillated to eifect the disengagement of the clutch 3|. In this manner the driving connection between the power shaft l I and the diaphragm pump is broken so that the diaphragm pump ceases operatic By the provision of the dash pot,v connected with the upper end of the clutch lever 38, lt will be seen that there will be prevented the applica.- tion of undue strains on the mechanism which might be caused by the sudden movements of the piston or diaphragm of the vacuum cylinder. The speed with which the clutch is engaged or disengaged is readily controlled by means of the cock 53 which forms a part of the dash pot.

After the centrifugal pump has been primed and is in full operation, it will continue to move the liquid through the chamber of the non-operating diaphragm pump and this action will continue until the source of liquid supply is exhaustthe centrifugal pump unit B" ed to such an extent that the pump begins to suck Y air. At this time the its "prime centrifugal pump will lose and as a. result the reduced pressure which has previously existed in the casting 22 will rise to atmospheric pressure causing the movable element I1 of the vacuum cylinder to move out or to reengaging the clutch 3l. This again starts the diaphragm pump operating to re-prime the centrifugal pump, or if the available supply of water or the liquid to be pumped is flowing in at a low rate, the diaphragm pump will continue to operate and remove the liquid as it comes in, forcing it out through the centrifugal pump.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the diaphragm pump unit is designated A', the centrifugal pump is designated B' and the driving and clutching and ile-clutching unit is designated C'.

Int-his first kmodification it will be seen that :hediaphr'agm pump is, in eilect, inverted so that ;he diaphragm I3' faces downwardly.

The gear reduction housing -25' Vis disposed directly beneath the diaphragm pump and the powreturn to its origina1 position thereby cr shaft il' passes through the centrifugal pump housing II' to and through the reduction gear located upon the opposite centrifugal pump from the power lowered by the diaphragm in the operation of the latter.

The construction of the clutch mechanism and the gearing isv exactly the same as shown in Figure 1 with the exception that the clutch lever, here designated 38', is disposed at one side or the clutch, instead oi' above it as in the structure of Figure l, and issupported for oscillation upon a vertical axis 38'.

The clutch lever 38' is controlled by the vacuum or reduced pressure which exists in the intake casting of the centrifugal pump, the vacuum line here being designated 24' -and leading to the vacuum cylinder 46. Also the control for the oscillating clutch lever 38 Iis embodied in the oil A description oi.' the operation of the arrange- Y ment shown in Figures 3 and 4 is not believed to be necessary since the mechanism operates exactly the same as in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the only diierence being that' the arrangement of theelements is changed so as to bring the diaphragm pump operating mechanism into position beneath the pump so as to produce a more compact structure.

In Figures 5 and 6,` while substantially the same n in the rst and second emunits are employed as bodiment; the mechanism is operated by the uid pressure maintained by the centrifugal pump in the outlet 23" instead of by the reduced pressure which exists in the intake casting.

In this embodiment the diaphragm pump A" is arranged with the driving and clutching and .de-clutching unit C" located therebeneath and has the power shaft l i passing directly therethrough from the power unit D" as in the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4.

In this third embodiment the clutch actuating lever 38" is made to oscillate for the release of the clutch 3l after the pump has begun operating and pumping to full capacity, by the pressure of yfluid which is carried from the outlet 23" of the centrifugal pump, through the pressure pipe line 2l" to a. cylinder 46". Within this cylinder is a piston 4l" which is connected by the coupling rod I8" with the clutch lever and the fluid from the pipe 2l" enters the cylinder behind the piston therein to force the piston over so as to'eiect the oscillation of the clutch lever 38" and the ung the dutch. n' 'the centrifuga pump shoum lose its "prim'e so that the pressure in the discharge side of the centrifugal pump drops, the clutch control spring will engage the clutch and cause vthe control lever 38 to oscillate back to the position in which it is shown in Figure thereby reconnecting the diaphragm pump with the power shaft H"A so as to start the diaphragm pump working and cause-it to either re-'prime the centrifugal pump or, if the liquid supply is too low for vthe' centrifugal pump to continue its pumping operation, to itself carry on the pumping action.

From the foregoing description it will b'e readily l apparent that the pumping apparatus herein described will function to automatically prime or start the centrifugal pump operating and will function continuously until all liquid has been removed from the source, the diaphragm or suction pump functioning to take over the job when the liquid has been reduced toa point or level where the centrifugal pump wouldv lose its prima During the operation of the diaphragm or suction pump the liquid would be passed through the centrifugal pump as would be readily apparent and consequently if the liquid source should be replenished so that the volume handled by the suction pump is increased, such increased volume will serve tov re-prime the centrifugal pump soy that the latter may then take over the pumping job and the suction pump will be stopped as previously explained. The liquid, however, will continue to pass through the chamber of the suction pump to the centrifugal pump,

as will be readily apparent.

I,claim:

l.' A pumping apparatus of the character stated comprising, in combination, a centrifugal pump having an inlet, a suction pump having an outlet and connected with the inlet of the centrifugal pump lto feed the latter, a power transmitting shaft operatively coupled with the centrifugal pump, a. power delivering coupling between said shaft and the vacuum pump, including a worm gear and a worm supported upon the shaft, a clutch for .coupling the shaft with the worm and including a disk fixed to the shaft and a disk slidable on the shaft, means normally urging the sliding disk into operative connection with the first disk, and means operating automatically to an outlet sive means for controlling'the speed of operation of the pressure responsive meanest 5. A pumping apparatus of the "character described comprising, in combination, a centrifugal pump having an inlet, a vacuum pump having an outlet connected with the inlet for feeding liquid to the centrifugal pump, a power transmitting shaft connected with the centrifugal pump, a worm mounted upon the shaft, a driving connection between said worm and the vacuum pump for transmitting driving power from the shaft to the vacuum pump, a clutch comprising a fixed member secured tothe shaft and a shiftable member operatively coupled with said worm and normally urged into engagement with the fixed member, a clutch lever connected with said clutch shiftable member and supported for oscillation, a pressure responsive unit having operative connection with said clutch lever to actuate the latter, and an operative coupling between the pressure responsive unit and the centrifugal pump for effecting the actuation of the unit upon a predetermined pressure change within the centrifugal pump.

6. A pumping apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a centrifugal pump having an intake, a vacuum pump having connected with said intake to feed the centrifugal pump, said vacuum pump having a pumping diaphragm, a power transmitting shaft disengage the sliding disk fromthe first disk to stop the operation of the vacuum pump following the priming of the centrifugal pump and the establishment of full pumping action of the latter. 2. A pumping apparatus as set forth in `claim l, in which the clutch actuating means includes a pressure responsive unit and a connection between the vunit and the' centrifugal pump for effectingthe actuation of the pressure responsive device upon a. predetermined change of pressure within the centrifugal pump.

3. Apumping apparatus asset forth in claim l,

with meansv for adjustably controlling the speed of operation of the clutch operating means.

4. A pumping apparatus as set forth in claim l, in which the clutch actuating means includes a' pressure responsive unit and a connection between the unitand the centrifugal pump for effecting the actuation of the pressure responsive device upon a predetermined change of pressure within the centrifugal pump, and an adjustable check means connected with the pressure responoperatively coupled with the centrifugal pump, an arm connected with said diaphragm, a worm and gear coupling between said arm and the power shaft for transmitting reciprocating motion to the diaphragm from the shaft, means for effecting the disengagement of said driving connection between the shaftand the diaphragm arm, a control element for said means, a pressure control unit operativelyl coupled with said control ele-A ment for effecting the'actuation thereof, and an operative coupling between the pressure control unit and the centrifugal pump by which the pressure control unit is actuated for the actuation of the control unit upon apredetermined change of pressure within the centrifugal pump.

'7. A pumping apparatus of the character set forth in claim 6, in whichsaid diaphragm is disposed upon the under side of the vacuum pump and above the said worm4 and gear coupling and said 4diaphragm arm extends directly downwardly for the stated operative connection with the Worm and gear coupling.

8. A pumping apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a centrifuga pump having an intake, a vacuum' pump having an outlet connected with said intake to feed thi centrifugal pump, a. power delivering shaft connected with the centrifugal pump, a clutch con* JULrUs LAMAR SMITH. 

